​In this series on spiritual gifts, I have noted that there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, there are varieties of ministries but the same Lord, there are varieties of effects but the same God who works all things in all persons.

​​Every Christian has a unique combination of spiritual gifts that combined with their talents and abilities helps them to serve Christ’s church in submission and obedience to God’s Word and to the benefit and needs of their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

In continuing the spiritual gifts series, I want to discuss why the need for God to grow our faith is so vital to our removing of "Self" from our Christian life. I have already established that self is one of the greatest barriers to a healthy church. It is also one of the greatest barriers to properly using spiritual gifts in the church.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. ​(Romans 12:1-2 NASB)

​The solution to self is to present ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice unto God. God no longer desires burnt sacrifices and He certainly doesn't want only the part of us that we are willing to give Him. No, He desires everything that we are and everything that we have. We do this by denying self and pursuing Christ and righteousness through further sanctification into Christ-likeness. ​

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (Romans 12:1 NASB)

​Do you want to live a victorious Christian life?

Have you ever felt that you have given all your effort and still fall short of being victorious? Have you tried various Bible studies, prayer groups, or different churches and still feel like something is missing?

​When we think of barriers we obviously think of something that either blocks or limits something. Usually, this is the blocking of a pathway we are attempting to do down or a blocking off of a section or a room that someone does not intend for us to go into. A barrier can also be a limitation on someone or something that prevents it from growing or developing past a certain point.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ​(1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NASB)

Spiritual gifts are vitally important to the overall health of a church. In fact, to the extent that a church is helping the brethren to discover, develop, and faithfully use their gifts to bring further unity in Christ will determine just how healthy a church is.

Pastor Andy Cain is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Emporia, Virginia. He grew up in Bladenboro, North Carolina and now resides in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. He has a strong desire to see God glorified both through his local Pastoral ministry but also through a wider online ministry.